Audience Comments

Vocalosity

Vocalosity performed at The Englert Theatre on Saturday, January 30, 2016.

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It was absolutely awesome!! Fun, interactive, and really good. My daughter, 10 years old, loved it and enjoyed singing along to some of her favorite songs.

Stephanie Burnett

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Such an impressive and entertaining performance! Bring them back to big Hancher!

Colleen Schilling

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Really enjoyed the music, dancing, and camaraderie of the group.  They really seemed to care for each other and work together well as a group.  Would love to see and hear them back again in the new Hancher! 

Karen and Al Albertus

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We LOVED Vocalosity. Bring them back! Our tickets were front row and were fabulous. I actually had the thought afterwards that I hope Hancher keeps ties with the Englert for smaller, more intimate productions.

Shea Becker

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We enjoyed them tremendously! They are so talented and enthusiastic. Great repertoire. Engaged the audience of many ages.

James and Martha Bradbury

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My 15-year-old daughter and I loved the entire show! We couldn’t believe two hours had passed so quickly. The personal stories were very moving. Maybe have something like that for all of the performers in the program?  The audience participation was hysterical and got a lot of giggles from all ages in our section. Would definitely go see them again and bring my son along!

My only slight complaint would be the fog machine.  It caused havoc with allergies and didn’t add anything to the show.

Jeni Lewis

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A disaster!!! Sound was TOO loud. Could not understand most of the words other than when Fever was sung. At intermission tried to speak to the technical director who was doing the sound. Very unresponsive to me and several others who were asking him to lower the sound system.  First words from him were that someone wanted sound to be much higher.

We and several others left. Since 1973, this was the first Hancher event which was a disaster.

Hancher has had many a cappella groups of various sizes who performed in much larger venues and were heard by all without miking.

A waste of time and money!!!

Mel Sunshine

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I wish I could say I enjoyed it, but I didn't. It was way too hot in the building. I sweat the whole night. Some people around us left at intermission. I felt that maybe it was because we were in the second balcony and heat rises. But while leaving, we ran into friends who had main floor seats and they said it was hot there, also. We will be attending events in the new Hancher, but we will not be going back to that theater.

Terry Kroemer

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Loved it! First number was too loud for my taste but loved their music, energy, etc. 

Kate Rose

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AMAZING!!! If they are in the area again, please let me know! :) I would love to bring my music students.

Monique Peck

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Very good performance, sometimes the sound was more than necessary, best when only a few were singing. Great family event.

William Johnson

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The group was truly inspiring! I have always loved a cappella singing and they delivered! And took it to the next level! They even had us singing with them too! Beautiful! Please bring them back!

Kris McLure

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Great show with tons of energy.

Anonymous

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My 18-year-old son and myself thoroughly enjoyed Vocalosity. We will attend more events like this in the future.

Chris Roberts

The Ellis Marsalis Quartet

The Ellis Marsalis Quartet performed at The Englert Theatre on Friday, December 11, 2015.

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They were great.

Reginald Cooper

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I'm not a die-hard jazz fan, but I was absolutely enchanted with the Ellis Marsalis Quartet. I enjoyed their performance and would recommend seeing a performance to any of my music loving friends, especially in the Englert location. It's such a charming space - big enough to accommodate a good sized crowd, but small enough to still feel intimate with the performers.

Sabrina K Hootman

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It was phenomenal. We certainly would like to see them back.

Resmiye Oral

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Thoroughly enjoyable.  I'm not usually wild about drummers, but this one was soooo good.  I also appreciated Ellis's effortless playing.

Linda Paul

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Wonderful!  I hope they are invited back for a real Hancher performance!

Marianne Mason

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A most enjoyable, exciting evening. Highly recommend for a return engagement.

Benny Hawkins

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Wow, great music and a little humor.

Paul Collins

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He said at least three times that he wants the quartet to come back and I'd be delighted if they did!

Anne Tanner

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We both thought the quartet was terrific. Ellis alone, I'm not sure could carry it off, but the group was wonderful. I bought 2 CDs to send to my sons who played trumpet and drums with the City High Jazz Band because the music brought back that same joyfulness that listening to the young musicians "back then" brought to me and to them.

Of course you know about the Englert not being prepared for an intermission, but I must say it didn't interfere with our enjoyment.

Best of all, I must admit the Englert is the only venue where I have seen Hancher programming since the flood that has close to the same feel of Hancher. Made me even more excited about next year’s reopening and reminded me to get my annual contribution in the mail!

Cathy Weingeist

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Music was very good. Would have nice if you had concession bars open for intermission.

John Meade

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Ellis was great - book the return performance. I hope he is around in the future. It would be great to book all his sons with him.

Anonymous

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So refreshing to listen to sophisticated but smooth, understandable jazz, performed by some of the best. I do believe, from comments by Mr. Marsalis, that he would come back to the new building!

Jerry Musser

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Ellis Marsalis played a wonderful evening of classics by Ellington, Coltrane, Monk, and others with his quartet: a magnificent saxophone player, Jason Marsalis his drummer, and a fine bass man. The Englert is intimate, comfortable, and ideal for getting to know this fine quartet of musicians.

Mark Isham

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It was a wonderful concert. Bring them back.  

Nancy Granner

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Super!!!

Sherwood Wolfson

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Great concert. From Monk to Guaraldi. My wife and I enjoyed every moment. Ellis said he would look forward to a return engagement and I hope this can be arranged. What a joyous event it would be if we could get Ellis, Jason, and add Wynton and/or Branford for a family concert. Keep the jazz alive!

Jim and Penny Hall

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An excellent concert - extremely enjoyable hearing the many old standard jazz tunes!!!

Dale Jackson

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We enjoyed the Ellis Marsalis Quartet far beyond what we expected. What a privilege to see and listen to such exemplary caliber musicians right in our own backyard! We hope they will invited back to perform in our gorgeous new building in 2016!

Maureen and Joel Moeller

 

Taylor Mac

A 24-Decade History of Popular Music: 1846-1856
Whitman vs. Foster: Songs Popular Near the Breaking Point

Photo: Miriam Alarcón Avila

Taylor Mac (who uses “judy,” lowercase sic, not as a name but as a gender pronoun) is a playwright, actor, singer-songwriter, performance artist, director and producer. Hancher co-commissioned Taylor Mac's ambitious A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, in which each decade between 1776 and 2016 is represented as a one hour cabaret-style show. On December 5, Taylor Mac performed the 1846-1856 decade, Whitman vs. Foster: Songs Popular Near the Breaking Point, at E.C. Mabie Theatre. Judy chose this decade because it coincided with when Iowa became a state (1846), and when the University of Iowa was founded (1847). Taylor Mac expanded the decade to be an evening-length work that called upon the audience as participants and collaborators.

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Susan and I thought that Taylor Mac was terrific. His outfit was worth the show. He is an amazing performance artist. We did not know what to expect. I should note that those who are not fans of fans of Walt Whitman may be offended. This is clearly not a show for everyone.

Gene Savin

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Ever since my daughters (ages 21 and 14) and I attended Saturday night's happening with judy, we feel transformed. As a native NYC-er, I have been to many performance pieces, musical theatre, art, and cutting edge performances and can honestly say that Taylor's event was truly profound for each of us. Judy was able to bring the audience to many different levels of awareness, create powerful community with words, issues buried and uncoverings, and pull our consciences to a more positive place. On top of all this judy IS a top-notch musician, as are the band members. Taylor entertained us with compassion, honestly, hilarity, and irreverence. It was an event that I doubt I will ever forget. We are thrilled to make the journey to New York City for the 24 hour concert in 2016. Thank you to Hancher for being so on top of what we all needed—Taylor Mac's inspiration to elevate us to be activists in whatever way we can!

Karen Charney

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Amazing performer. Thoroughly thought provoking and entertaining evening. Thanks for bringing in someone who pushes the boundaries a bit.

Mary Adamek

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I learned and laughed and I was touched by the performance. I really hope we get to see him again in Iowa City. I could not believe his show wasn't sold out. I'd have watched him for hours, and I certainly want to go to NY to see his 24-hour performance. Please bring him again!

Manuela Cretella

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Taylor is a sublime artist: a beautiful agitator who invites the audience to feel and think. 

Can't wait to see more. Bring judy back immediately!

Scott Bradley

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Inspired juxtaposition of Whitman and Foster. Challenging. Humorous. Great band. Wonderful takes on the songs and the closing Whitman was memorably done.

David Rust

Chris Thile

Photo: Miriam Alarcón Avila

Mandolin virtuoso performed a mix of Bach Sonatas and Partitas, traditional bluegrass numbers, and his own songs at The Englert Theatre on November 4, 2015.

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He is fabulous!

Arthur Canter

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What a rare opportunity to hear a musician who combines the classical with the popular so magnificently. And to hear an instrument played so technically well and beautifully.

Mel Sunshine

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I first heard a mandolin as a college student in 1991, when I tagged along to a bluegrass festival with my older sister. I had no idea that I was hearing a child prodigy--a 12 year old Chris Thile--with Nickel Creek. I never did get that mandolin off my mind, and I took up the instrument 14 years later. This was my third time seeing Chris play live in concert, and the first time hearing him play solo. What a treat.

Watching expertise is always a stunning experience, and Chris delivered. With humor, precision, speed, and a stunning dynamic range, he had us all mesmerized. My favorite part of the performance was a selection from Bach in the key of E major, played during an encore where he stepped away from the microphone and allowed his Lloyd Loar F-5 mandolin to fill the concert hall unassisted by modern technology. Hearing such a beautiful instrument played by a master of it--there simply are no words. His music reaches deep and touches the soul. I'm grateful to have had that experience yesterday.

Anonymous

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I was only familiar with Chris through Nickel Creek. I appreciated his extraordinary talent with the mandolin and, while it is hard to picture "Prairie Home Companion" without Garrison Keillor, I could see from Chris's storytelling, and his rapport with the audience, why he was chosen to carry on. I wish him well with this and with all his many endeavors.

Cris N.

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I had a wonderful time at the Thile performance. His Bach was clean, pristine and perfectly structured, and what a tempo on the E major! One of the things I liked best about the evening was the diversity of the audience, Thile and Hancher touched a wonderfully broad spectrum of Iowans. Right on mission! More like this please!

Hal Ide

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Utterly superb. The man is a musician with extraordinary skills and great sensitivity. He is sui generis. We loved him.

Kenn Hubel

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He is quite a picker!

Sherwood Wolfson

Chris was amazing - funny, connects with the audience, fantastic musician, songwriter, singer - bring him back.

Deb and Ian Bullion

Lynne Arriale, Carla Cook, and Grace Kelly

 "You Know How I Feel" A Tribute to Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, and Joni Mitchell

Photo: Miriam Alarcón Avila

Lynne Arriale (piano), Carla Cook (vocals), and Grace Kelly (saxes) performed two sets at Club Hancher at The Mill on Friday, October 30.

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Their musicality was excellent.  I was disappointed there were not more Joni Mitchell tunes.

Kate Rose

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Fantastic concert.  I’ve listened to Lynne Arriale (mostly her trio work) for years.  She is of course exceptionally talented and has a unique style in her arrangements.  It’s very easy to tell when she’s done the arrangement.  Grace Kelly was especially amazing.  I can’t believe someone that young can play the saxophone like that.  She played like a veteran.  I’m sure we will be hearing more from her in the future.

Typically I think the Mill is a perfect place for this kind of music.  My only regret with this concert was the very loud kitchen staff.  I complained, but it did no good.  They continually shouted and slammed dishes throughout the concert.  Perhaps the management should notify them when there’s a jazz concert going on and that people actually want to listen to the music.

Rives Bird

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We absolutely loved this concert! Great setting, so intimate. My husband, son, and his girlfriend all raved about it, and we're all musicians and singers, such a great group.  

Thanks again for all your hard work! We really loved loved loved the show!

Laura Carson

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Kweel!

Sherwood Wolfson

Brentano String Quartet

Photo: Christian Steiner

Hancher collaborated with the University of Iowa String Quartet Residency Program (with further support from the Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor Program) to bring the Brentano String Quartet to campus October 12–17, 2015. They performed a public show on October 17 at Riverside Recital Hall.

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It's hard to find enough superlatives to describe the quartet and their music.

Mel Sunshine

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The best string quartet I have ever heard. Thanks for providing us with this experience.

Eunice and Bob Welsh

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The Brentanos were, of course, magnificent. And I love Riverside, even though a lot of people complain that it's old and uncomfortable. My main complaint about all of the Hancher-hosted events at Riverside is that for some reason the Hancher staff don't know how to dim the lights. This seems like a very basic aspect of hosting a concert. More than once, the performers took the stage after intermission to discover that the audience members were unaware that intermission was ending and they were milling around. This happened last season and also on Saturday night. I think this is disrespectful to the performers, and embarrassing to the audience. Would you please ensure that your staff is trained in how to formally end intermission by flashing the lights in the lobby? They should also be dimming the lights during the performance.

Rebecca Durkee

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1. I was astounded and delighted to hear the sections from Art of Fugue. I have played Art of Fugue in string quartet format for some years and have found it always to be illuminating. I found their approach to it to be one in which the 4 voices were not always separately perceptible. That is, the whole seemed to subsume the separate lines. That was certainly intentional, achieved by the technique (playing without vibrato and tending to a flautando bowing) but I myself prefer to hear a little more of the separate voices simultaneously.

 
2. The Britten, which I have not listened to for 40 years or more, was a revelation and wonderfully presented.

3. I liked the Brahms very much. Their moderation as to tempo and their depiction of the complexities of the work made it a great pleasure for me to hear, and contrasted a bit with the modern vogue to play the Brahms quartets in a more dramatic or bombastic manner. I was especially moved by the presentation of the inner two movements. The last movement seemed to me to be a little more difficult to absorb, perhaps because of the pacing. I like to hear each variation set out a bit more, separated from its fellows, so that the series of variations becomes a sort of journey through varying landscapes. I did not feel that to my full satisfaction. Maybe I was tired. 

4. Overall, these are musicians who play with deepest respect and love for the music, clearly with the principal idea of presenting the beauty of the music itself to the listeners rather than demonstrating themselves to be virtuoso performers. And, overall, I liked very much the balance of the program as a whole. This is a wonderfully mature ensemble, and to my mind perhaps the best on the current scene if the program I heard is representative.

 
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment.  
James Christensen

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Innovative program and outstanding performance!

Gene Savin

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Wonderful concert. What a crowd and glad we went early with our cushions. Can't wait to hear chamber groups perform in the new building.

Nancy Granner

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The concert was splendid. I particularly enjoyed the Britten quartet, which I had never heard before. Thanks to Hancher for bringing these distinguished musicians.

Alice Davison

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I thought it was a good concert. They are so talented. The selections were educational and interesting to listen to.

Loris Metzger

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We, in Iowa City are the fortunate recipients of the recently formed quartet program so brilliantly engineered by Beth Oaks. This program brought to the campus three outstanding young quartets last year for a residency which included a week of each quartet member working with string students individually as well as in chamber music groups. Each week of residency concluded with a stunning quartet concert by the visiting quartet.

Obviously, last year was no fluke. Last week the visiting quartet was the renowned Brentano. They created a program, unusual in many aspects not only from the different musical periods represented but also for the contrasting musical harmonies and string "sounds."  For those of us familiar with Bach's Art of Fugue, usually heard from the piano or organ, the four stringed instruments played each line clearly, but with such a fine sense of ensemble that The Art of Fugue became no longer a musical treatise in composition, but a deep musical experience.

The four members of the Brentano play as if they were one and not four musicians. There is never the all too common prima donna first violin sound that becomes just a bit sharp as though the composition calls for a solo voice. This was true, whether they were sharing the modern Britten or the lush sounds of the Brahms with the audience. When a solo voice was heard it arose logically from within the composition and always remained a part of the whole.

I am moved to say a "thank you" to all of those who make this program possible, not only for the students but now for the public as well. I wonder just how many realize that we have the privilege of hearing the very top quartets of our day. The Brentano certainly proved to be in that select group.

Helene Jolas Soper 

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It was a beautiful performance of an excellent, somewhat unusual, program. The highlight came at the very beginning, when the group played three segments, of increasing complexity, of Bach’s “Art of the Fugue.” What was really special about it was that the first violinist clearly explained the structure of all three fugues, so that the audience could follow them.

Also highly commendable were the beautifully done solo parts of the Brahms Op. 67 string quartet; I am thinking of the soaring solo line for the second violin in the 2nd movement, and the dominating role of the viola in the third. Brahms would have been proud of it. 

Joseph Frankel

Las Cafeteras

Photo: Miriam Alarcón Avila

Las Cafeteras performed two sets at Club Hancher at The Mill on Friday, September 25, 2015.

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I loved this show!!  I went to the 9 p.m. show because the 7 p.m. show was sold out, and it was fantastic. The only thing needed was more dance space!

Kristin Gilchrist

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We loved the performers. Great concert at Hancher Club Mill!! Seemed to us The Mill was understaffed for the first 45 minutes. Eventually things were straightened out in our section.
Kate Rose

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There are so many wonderful things I can say about this performance, but I'll try to keep it short: Las Cafeteras's performance was nothing short of cathartic. I attended the show with a rather large group of my fellow members from the Latina/o Graduate Student Association and we all left touched and inspired by their musical gift. Their messages of cultural pride and social justice validated not only our histories, but also our experiences of living in Iowa. I am thoroughly impressed with and grateful to Hancher for bringing a band of their quality and authenticity to Iowa City. All I can say is, more please!    

Ginna Moreano​

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Good fun.  Thanks for bringing them.  

Zoe Eskin

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Entertaining and great message!

Patricia Shields

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Thank you so much for sponsoring Las Cafeteras, we had a wonderful time and look forward to upcoming events. Keep up the fantastic work you do for the arts. It's enlightening to see programs like this in our part of the state.

David Martinez

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They sure had the beat.

Sherwood Wolfson

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We loved them. Incredible energy and easy to join the fun. We’ll miss these Club Hancher events if you stop them once the new Hancher opens. We’ve really enjoyed the atmosphere and entertainment at this venue.

Karen Drake

Lucky Plush, "The Queue"

Photo: Miriam Alarcón Avila

Lucky Plush Productions performed The Queue at Space Place Theater on Thursday–Friday, September 17–18, 2015.

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The acoustics of Space Place are poor.  With hearing aids to compensate for severe deafness, I understood little of the dialogue.  (I have not heard whether the new facilities will be equipped with an inductive loop for audience with hearing aids and I dearly hope they will.)  The choreography was lackluster both in concept and execution. 

We await the coming year and appreciate the superlative efforts of the Hancher staff to cope with the hardships of the past 7 years. 

Kenn Hubel

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Show was enjoyable, but couldn't get all the words the speakers were saying. Hard to follow. Loved the dancing. Hated how hot the venue was.

Anonymous

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It was a wonderful performance. Totally enjoyable.

Pamela Willard

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Lucky Plush created an original dance, drama, and humor entertainment for an enjoyable evening.

Mark Isham

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A very enjoyable evening!

Patricia Shields

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The Hancher season is off to good start!

Sherwood & Sara Wolfson